Your wedding dress will probably be the single most valuable piece of clothing you have ever purchased. It is the beautiful reflection of your character and the enchanting celebration of your wedding day. But, even a haute couture piece won’t be outstanding if it hasn’t been fitted closely to your figure. Ready-to-wear garments are sized to general proportions, but a perfect fit can only be achieved through bridal dress alterations.
We at Aloha Cleaners in Glendale, AZ, are experts in making slight imperfections look like they never existed by creating custom-fitted pieces of art. Getting that perfect fit is a process and the right partner can make the difference. Use this checklist to effortlessly find your way through the process of dress alteration.
1. Start Your Fittings Early
When making bridal dress alterations in Glendale, timing plays a crucial role. It is our suggestion that you set up your first fitting two to three months ahead of your wedding day. Such a schedule gives our expert seamstresses enough time to carry out complicated tasks, for example, hand-sewn lace, delicate beading or changing multiple layers of tulle, without the pressure of a short deadline.
By setting up your appointments early, you can be sure there will be enough time for the usual three fittings that are necessary for a perfect “Precision Fitting”.
2. Bring Your Wedding Shoes and Undergarments
The wedding shoes you intend to wear when walking down the aisle should always be brought if you want a perfect dress hem. Even a slight difference in heel height can be a source of tripping or uneven draping.
As important as shoes are, they cannot replace undergarments. A bodice fitting totally depends on the foundation underneath it. So if it is a particular bustier, shapewear, or petticoat that you wear, make sure you bring them to each visit to the dress alteration​ store in Glendale store so that the dress alteration remains consistent.
3. Understand and Choose Your “Bustle”
A gorgeous train makes an amazing impression during the ceremony and in photos but it can turn out to be a nuisance when it’s time for dancing. A “bustle” is a piece of your wedding gown that can be lifted and secured, thus freeing up your floor space.
Depending on your gown and other factors, we at Aloha Cleaners, can guide you through the silhouette that fits your dress style:
- American Bustle: An “over-bustle” where the train is lifted and secured on the outside of the gown.
- French Bustle: A type of “under-bustle” where the fabric is folded underneath itself resulting in a beautiful layered look that is especially popular with natural waistlines.
- Romance Bustle: A more elaborate way of styling that allows the skirt to maintain its flow.
4. Work with High-End Fabrics
High-end fashion gowns typically are made from silk, brocade satin, or have beautiful embroidery. Such exquisite fabrics cannot just be handled with a regular sewing machine; they must be handled “very gently” with heavy-duty precision tools. Our Glendale atelier is fitted with cutting-edge equipment that is not commonly found in traditional tailor shops, thus we can handle even the most intricate fabrics without any difficulty.
5. Keep a Portion of Your Budget for Alterations
Always remember to allocate a part of your gown budget for alterations when you go gown shopping. Excellent bridal gown alterations are generally very labor-intensive and require hand-work. We at Aloha Cleaners are always committed to clear and honest communication with our clients. We give you clear timelines and honest pricing so that you will not be shocked as the big day draws near.
6. The “Clean and Press” Benefit
Several tailors might hand back to you the dress with “fitting wrinkles” that even the pinning and tucking over the weeks cannot get rid of. Being a complete garment care partner, we are able to provide a special “Clean & Press” option. Before you take your gown home, we steam and press it professionally using our in-house equipment, so that it is ready for the ceremony right away once we hand it over to you.
7. Plan for Body Changes
Fluctuating weight during the last weeks of wedding planning is a very common thing for a bride. We would suggest that you make an appointment for your final fitting around a couple of weeks before the wedding day. This gives us the opportunity of making any last-minute “quick service” adjustments so that on your special day you feel both comfortable and confident.
8. Don’t Forget the Wedding Party
It is only natural that the bride should be the focus of the event, nevertheless, the groom and bridesmaids must also be looking sharply. There is no problem at all if you bring your entire party’s formalwear because we can do suit tapering, shortening jacket sleeves, and bridesmaid dress hemming as well. Having a uniform and beautifully tailored wedding party always enhances the whole vibe of the event.
9. Prioritize Comfort for the Long Haul
Put on your dress and wear it all day!
We are a family-run business at Aloha Cleaners and taking into consideration your movements when wearing the dress, is our special thing to do. Not forcing you to give up a whole lot of style for comfort is important to us. After all, we want you to be able to sit, breathe and dance freely without limitations in your beautiful dress.
10. Secure the Legacy with Preservation
Post celebration, the care and preservation continue. A bridle gown perfectly fitted is less vulnerable to damage caused by dragging it on the floor, but it will always require professional cleaning. We provide Bridal Dress Preservation services in Glendale, where we use acid-free boxes of museum quality for your wedding dress, thus protecting the dress from yellowing and deterioration for many decades.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How long do bridal dress alterations in Glendale take?
Generally, basic clothing repairs can be done in 3-5 days and for bridal gown alterations, 4 to 8 weeks are recommended for, apart from multiple fittings, detailed attention to the dress.
Q2: Do I need to book an appointment for a fitting?
Definitely. We want to give you personal attention for such complex outfits as wedding gowns or full suit resizing. That is why we kindly ask you to definitely schedule a consultation by phone at our Glendale location before your visit.
Q3: Can you fix a broken zipper on a beaded or delicate dress?
Yes. We are experts in formal wear zipper repair and replacement. We make sure that the replacement will be the same in weight, color, and character as your original garment.
Q4: Should I clean my dress before having it altered?
In most cases, yes as some fabrics might shrink. Since we are equipped with full-service dry cleaning, we can provide both services clean and alter your dress to ensure its correct alteration.
Q5: Is it possible to alter a dress that is two sizes too big?
Certainly! Our company is dedicated to enhancing your outfit. We not only shorten the hem but also look at the lines of the garment to make sure the dress will be flattering to your figure even after the significant resizing.
